Evansville Police will not reopen Aleah Beckerle murder case without new evidence

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Evansville Police Department is not planning to reopen the Aleah Beckerle investigation after the man accused of killing her was found not guilty of felony murder.

"We would not have gone forward with this prosecution if we did not feel we had the person who was responsible for it," department spokesman Sgt. Jason Cullum said.

Terrence Roach, 25, was charged with multiple felonies in connection with Beckerle's disappearance and death but was found not guilty of felony murder, kidnapping and burglary on the third day of his trial Wednesday.

Cullum said city police are willing to look into tips about other people's involvement in Beckerle's disappearance or physical evidence that has not been uncovered yet, but unless new information comes to light, EPD is not going to restart the investigation.

Cullum addressed theories that other people may have been involved in Beckerle's death by saying investigators went through a process of elimination while sorting through evidence. Multiple people were considered as suspects, but police believe Roach was the person responsible.

“We are disappointed with the verdict, but we respect the jury and the effort they put into this case,” Cullum said.

Roach's defense attorney, Glenn Grampp, praised the jury for being meticulous about the evidence and court instructions. Grampp said he believes the jury thought the investigation was incomplete.

The jury deliberated for close to 11 hours after testimony ended Wednesday morning. Beckerle's family and court staff stayed in the courthouse past midnight waiting for a verdict.

Sentencing

Roach was found guilty of criminal confinement and abuse of a corpse in connection with Beckerle's disappearance but not guilty of the five other felony charges in the case.

He will learn his sentence on those convictions during a hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 27 in Vanderburgh County Superior Court.

By that time, Roach will have spent 453 days in jail — a year and about three months.

Criminal confinement resulting in serious bodily injury is a level 3 felony and can carry a sentence of up to 16 years. Abuse of a corpse is a level 6 felony, considered less serious than a level 1 to 5 felony, and carries a sentence of six months to two-and-a-half years.

"Ultimately, the sentencing decision is up to the judge in this case," said Jess Powers, spokeswoman for the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office.

During the hearing, both sides can present arguments and evidence to Judge Robert Pigman to help him decide what sentence Roach will serve. The Prosecutor's Office plans to argue for the maximum sentence available, Powers said.

Aleah Beckerle's family 'devastated'

Multiple people, including Beckerle family members, started crying in the courtroom early Thursday morning when the jury announced its verdict.

Beckerle’s great-aunt, Laura Jackson, released a statement on behalf of the family Thursday afternoon.

She said the family was devastated Roach was found not guilty of felony murder, pointing to the recording played for the jury in which Roach tells his mother he kidnapped Beckerle and duct-taped her mouth shut.

Beckerle’s official cause of death was not determined. According to the forensic pathologist that conducted her autopsy, her likely cause of death was suffocation.

“Aleah’s mother and loved ones are shocked, stunned and angry,” Jackson said. “There is no justice for Aleah Beckerle.”